Metallic step-ladder.



No. 736,495. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

W. H. CLOUD. METALLIC STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1908.

N0 MODEL.

UNITE STATES llatented August 18, 190 3.

, ATENT FICEN WILLIAM H. CLOUD, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS I TO CHARLES A. STYER AND HARVEY L. ASHLEY, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA.

METALLIC STEP-"LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,495, dated August 18, 1903.

Application filed March 11, 1903.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. CLOUD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kokomo, in the county of Howard and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Metallic Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ladders, and more partisularly to that class known as step-lad ders.

The object of my'invention is to construct a ladder from sheet metal which will be strong and durable, cheap to manufacture, and light to handle, and one which can be as easily folded'when out of operation as any ordinary step-ladder.

To this end my invention consists in the novel'construction and arrangement of the several parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my ladder in position for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same in afolded position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the sides or standards; Fig. 4, a detail perspective view from the in side of the upper portion of one of the standards; Fig. 5, a plan view of the platform and bail, and Fig. 6 a plan view of one of the intermediate steps.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the sides or standards, each being stamped from apiece of sheet metal, preferably galvanized, either plain orcorrugated, as may be desired. For the ordinary use plain metal may be used, but when constructed for heavy or rough use corrugated metal is preferable.

The elongated openings or apertures 2 are formed by splitting or cutting the metal in the desired places and bending 01 Hanging the split portions '3 back upon the inner face of the standards 1, thereby reinforcing said standards around the opening thus formed.

The upper ends of said standards are flanged orbent at a substantially right angle to the body portion, as at 4:, to form a support or' 0 rest for the upper step or platform 5, which latter may be corrugated or plain, as desired,

Serial No. 147.386. (No model.)

and is secured in position by means of bolts or rivets 6 or in any other desired manner.

The rear edge of each standard 1 is bent at asubstantially right angle to the body por- -tion,.as at 7, for a purpose hereinafter more fully set forth, and the front edge 8 thereof is bent inward and rolled around a longitudinally-extending Wire 9 for the purpose of strengthening the front edge of the standards or sides. If desired, this wire may be omitted,

but ispreferably inserted as a means for pro-g ards 1 to prevent said metallic standard from coming into contact with a carpet or polished floor, thus preventing the marring or scratching of the same. These blocks of wood or feet 11 may be securely held in position in any de sirable manner; but I have preferably illustrated nails 14,which enter the same through the standards from the outside thereof.

15 designates a plurality of openings stamped or 'cut out of the standards near the lower end thereof to insure lightness.

'The'front edge of the upper step or platform is turned down, as at 16, resting against the front edge 8 of the standards 1, and said step extends for some distance beyond the sides or standards, as at 17. The rear edge 18 thereof is also flanged downward, as at 19,

'and rests "against the rear edges 7 of the standard. This step or platform may be provided with a plurality of teeth or projections 20, extending upward from the face thereof, to prevent a persons foot from slipping when standing thereon and are formed in any desired manner; My preferred manner of forming them is by stamping or punching them up from the under side thereof.

ranged so as to diverge from the upper step a The sides or standards are preferably ared in a similar manner.

toward the base of the ladder, thereby causing the feet to stand at a greater distance apart to insure steadiness. They are also provided with a plurality of slots r openings 21 for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

'The numeral 22 designates theint'ermediate steps, each of said steps being construct- Said steps are-formed from a single piece of sheet metal,with their rear edge 23 bent at a substantial. right an-v gle and their front edge rolled, as at 24, around a rod or bar 24:, the ends of which 'pass through an aperture 24: in the standards adjacent the slots or opeuings'2l and Secured in position against displacement in any desired manner. If desired, said bar 24' may be omitted; but I prefer to use it, as it strengthens and supports the front edge of the steps. I 1

25 designates fingers or tongues, preferably two, extending from each end of the step 22 and are each prov'idded near their free extremity with an aperture or opening 26. The steps22 being thus constructed are placed between the standards with their ends standing within the trough or housing formed by the front and rear edges-7 and 8 and with the tongues or fingers passing through the openings or slots 21. These tongues or fingers are then bent down against the outer face of the standards, and a bolt or rivet 27 is passed through the openings 26 and through the standard to hold said step in position. The downturned edge 23 of the stepstands within and rests against the inner face of the flange or edge 7 of the standard, and, if desired, an additional belt or rivet may be passed through their intersecting points. A

cross brace or bar 28, extending across the back of the standards, and a filler-block 29 beneath the lower step may be provided, if desired, in order to insure more strength.

30 is a leg or support constructed, preferably, from a single piece of flat bar, braced at its central portion 31 and having its upper extremities 32 bent outward and adapted to pass through the upper ends of the standards, as at 33, from the inside. 7 A bar 34 is secured across the rear face of the standards to serve as a stop to the outward movement of the leg orsupport 30; but, if desired, the

rear edge 18 of the top step 5 may beextepded down far enough to answer the same purpose.

35 is a loop or eye secured to the leg or support near its braced portion and is adapted to" receive the end of a hook 36 to hold said leg in position. The inner ends 37 or the hook are pivoted to the standards by means of the ears or eyes 38, which may be formed integral with the standards and bent into position or attached thereto in any manner.

A bail or arm 39 is pivoted near the top of' the standards and is adapted to fold down flat against the rear edges thereofl when the ladder is folded, and 4.0 is a hook, preferably pivoted to the bail, for supporting a recepta cle hung thereon. The upper step or platin a raised position, and 43 is a latch or catch pivoted to the top platform for engaging one. arm of the bail for holding the same in an elevated position.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself tothe specific detailsxofconstruction, as considerable change may be made without departing. from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus. fully described'tny inve'ntion, I

What I claim as new, is-

1. A ladder constructed of sheet metal,'the

sides or standards thereof" and the intermedi-- ate steps being each provided with a flanged rear edge and a rolled front edge, andmeans for securing the flanged portionstogether.

2. A ladder constructed of sheet metal, the sides or standards thereofhaving their body portions stamped out at intervals and bent back upon themselves to form reinforced openings, and steps secured between'said standards in proximity to the openings.

. 3. A ladder constructed of sheet metal, the

sides or standards thereof being provided. with a flanged rear edge and a rolled front edge, metallic steps secured between thestandards with their extremities standing between the bent edges, and filler-blocks also secured between the front and rear edges of the standards and extending beyond the lower end thereof.

4:. A ladder constructed of sheet metal'comprising side'standards, each of said stand-- ards being provided with pairs of alined. slots,

a plurality of steps each constructed of sheet metal, and means carried by each end ofthe steps adapted to engage said slots for holding the parts of the ladder assembled and to prevent movement of the steps.

5. Aladder constructed of sheet metal comprising side standards, each of said standards being provided with aplurality of I slots, a plurality of metallic steps and tongues car.-

ried by the ends of the steps, each of said tongues passing through one of the slots in the standard and being ,bentdown againstthe outer face. thereof, to'support said steps and hold the standards in position.

6. Aladder constructed of sheet metal comprising side standards, each of. said standards being provided with a plurality of slots, and an aperture adjacent each slot, metallicsteps,

tongues carried by the ends of'the steps and passing through the slots, and a rod or bar secured across the front of each step passing through'the P ture in each standard adjacent the slot. i

7 Aladder constructed of sheet metal, com? prising side standards having openings there.- 7 in, and metallic steps securedbetween said" standards, the upper extremities of the stand.-

ards being flanged inward, anda platform se cured-acrossthe upper ends thereofand resta ing upon theinturned portions, the frontan rear' edges of saidplatform'ibein'g turn'e downward respectively against the front and rear edges of the standard.

8. A ladder constructed of sheet metal, each of the standards thereof being provided near their upper extremities with an aperture, a leg, constructed of a single piece of metal bent into shape and having its upper extremities bent at an angle to its body portion and adapted to enter the aperture in each of the standards.

9. A ladder constructed of sheet metal, a leg pivoted to the standards thereof, and an eye carried by said leg, ears formed on the standards, by bending a part of its body portion into position, each of said ears being provided with an aperture, and a hook journaled in said aperture and adapted to engage the eye on the leg.

10. A metallic ladder, provided Withside standards, a corrugated sheet-metal platform secured across the upper extremity of said standards and flanges on the platform en'- gaging the front and rear edges of the standards, said platform being provided with a reduced rear end to form shoulders, a hook pivoted to the platform, and a bail pivoted to the standards, said hook being adapted to engage the bail to hold the same in a raised position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. CLOUD.

Witnesses:

E. J. ABERSOL, WALTER H. KIRK. 

